Classic Clears are easily the most affordable out of the big 3 single plys out there. Aside from price, why choose Aquarian over the other 2? Well, it depends on your preference....Read complete review

Classic Clears are easily the most affordable out of the big 3 single plys out there. Aside from price, why choose Aquarian over the other 2? Well, it depends on your preference. In my experience I've found Aquarian Classic Clears to be similar in resonance but deeper, darker, and posessing a lower fundamental note than both Remo and Evans. Does this mean you can tune lower with them? Well, not necessarily. I've found Remo to be the best at low tunings (low 14" or 16"), Evans to be the best at high pitched tunings (8 and 10" toms), and Aquarians to be good for a fat thick sound on your 12, 13, and 14" toms.

If 'deep' is your thing, Aquarian is the way to go. Their mylar is darker pitched and also seemingly more resonant when tuned just right. You'll get that "wooooom" resonance, if that's your thing.

Evans on the other hand has a high-pitched quality to them. They are very bright (or plastic-y depending on your ear). Remo is clear and bright.

So take your pick. I've found them all to be durable with Evans being the most durable. After a few hours of play on my Classic Clears they are showing some wear. I also have not been able to successfully tune my 14" tom (Pearl Masters Studio BRX) low enough without it 'papering out' on me.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Different from Evans Level 360

I'm doing a resto-mod of a '65 Ludwig Super Classic that I've had for 35 years and haven't played for in almost as long. I've been using the Evans Level 360 heads on my...Read complete review

I'm doing a resto-mod of a '65 Ludwig Super Classic that I've had for 35 years and haven't played for in almost as long. I've been using the Evans Level 360 heads on my other kit, and thought I'd give the Aquarians a try. Like the Remos, I had to crack one rod four turns more than any other just to take the wrinkles out of that side of the tom head. This is the way all heads used to be, and if you like the sound of the Aquarians enough, it can be tolerated. I've gotten too used to using the Evans Level 360s: Drop the head on, finger tighten all the lugs, turn the drum key your estimated number of turns on each rod, and Bob's your uncle - the drum is perfectly turned. The Aquarians were worth a try, but for ease of tuning it's Evans all the way. BTW, don't believe Aquarian's hype about the super-vacuum process that "eliminates the oily look of other two-ply drum heads because there's no air trapped in ours." The Response 2 heads looked MORE oily than Remo Pinstripes or Evans EC2s. The Aquarians are not bad heads, but unless you happen to really like the sound of one of their models, they're nothing to write home about.

I'm doing a resto-mod of a '65 Ludwig Super Classic that I've had for 35 years and haven't played for in almost as long. I've been using the Evans Level 360 heads on my other kit, and thought I'd give the Aquarians a try. Like the Remos, I had to crack one rod four turns more than any other just to take the wrinkles out of that side of the tom head. This is the way all heads used to be, and if you like the sound of the Aquarians enough, it can be tolerated. I've gotten too used to using the Evans Level 360s: Drop the head on, finger tighten all the lugs, turn the drum key your estimated number of turns on each rod, and Bob's your uncle - the drum is perfectly turned. The Aquarians were worth a try, but for ease of tuning it's Evans all the way. BTW, don't believe Aquarian's hype about the super-vacuum process that "eliminates the oily look of other two-ply drum heads because there's no air trapped in ours." The Response 2 heads looked MORE oily than Remo Pinstripes or Evans EC2s. The Aquarians are not bad heads, but unless you happen to really like the sound of one of their models, they're nothing to write home about.

I really like the Classic Clears (the ones that are actually clear) and have used them on several kits, but the Classic Clear Black, which I bought recently, I returned. For some silly reason Aquarian actually paints the inside of a clear head with some sort of black spray paint to give it the black color. It's inconsistent, which can be seen when light hits the heads and the paint dampens the head. This may work for a resonant kick head, but is totally silly to implement this process for a tom head. The other two big head manufacturers use black mylar for their black heads. Not sure what Aquarian is thinking with this design and I'm a huge Aquarian fan. I cannot recommend the Classic Clear "Black" heads at all. I will continue to use Aquarian heads as they sound great and are super durable but I will never order Classic Clear Black heads ever again unless they get real and stop using paint and use an actual black mylar.

Classic Clears are easily the most affordable out of the big 3 single plys out there. Aside from price, why choose Aquarian over the other 2? Well, it depends on your preference. In my experience I've found Aquarian Classic Clears to be similar in resonance but deeper, darker, and posessing a lower fundamental note than both Remo and Evans. Does this mean you can tune lower with them? Well, not necessarily. I've found Remo to be the best at low tunings (low 14" or 16"), Evans to be the best at high pitched tunings (8 and 10" toms), and Aquarians to be good for a fat thick sound on your 12, 13, and 14" toms.

If 'deep' is your thing, Aquarian is the way to go. Their mylar is darker pitched and also seemingly more resonant when tuned just right. You'll get that "wooooom" resonance, if that's your thing.

Evans on the other hand has a high-pitched quality to them. They are very bright (or plastic-y depending on your ear). Remo is clear and bright.

So take your pick. I've found them all to be durable with Evans being the most durable. After a few hours of play on my Classic Clears they are showing some wear. I also have not been able to successfully tune my 14" tom (Pearl Masters Studio BRX) low enough without it 'papering out' on me.

I have them as Resonant heads and they really complement the Performance II Power dots. I ordered the black and they just paint the inside to achieve this. Although you can not tell once they are mounted and they sound better than any thinner resonant head I have used before. The weight of the head is just right.

These are stronger than remo's but not for heavy hitters (or people who use big sticks) They are very however sensitive and easy to tune. If you think remo ambassador clears are your favorite try these. They sound better, are more durable, and tune/seat easily. I use them for the 10 and 12 tom (top/bottom). They do not tune low enough on a floor tom for me (personally) but thats only because I like my 14" floor to sound as low as it will allow the Evans EC2 and Remo PS3 are the best floor tom heads if you tune low IMHO. Overall great heads. highly recommend them.

I recently changed my top heads to Aquarian response 2 coated heads and could not believe the difference in sound. I replaced the bottom heads with the clasic clear and they compliment the top heads perfectly. They tuned up well and I feel like I have a new drum set. I would not have believed the sound could be so much better, but it is. I'm sold!!!

I just slapped these babies on my tom bottoms this morning. They sing with clear, warm tone. The only drawback from the sound is that my toms sound kida dead. But that's only because I have my pinstripes on still. But, when I get my texture coated response 2's they will sound great. Buy it! Great for any style of music. Every aquarian head I've boughten has been straight 10's. I love aquarian.

These look awesome in black, as reasonant heads. The black ones, I know, have Aquarians reqular logo, not the cursive classic clear. This is good, looks better, if you're looking at details anyway. I use all aquarian heads. I use these with coated performance II's, which aren't currently available from musician's friend. Perhaps they'll see this and think about it...

Aquarian Classic Clear drumheads have a nice, bright, open sound when you use the on the resonant side of your toms. Although im not sure of what they sound like on the batter side. But if you do like a more bright, open tom sound, then the best thing to do is probably to use Aquarian Studio-X's on the batter side, and Aquarian Classic Clear's on the resonant side, but that is my opinion. Thank you!